Shimonov says to support an order that size, they would need to hire hundreds of new staff before year\u2019s end and need a nearly-ready space to accommodate production. And the Stellantis plant seems to fit the bill.<\/p>\n
Essentially idled since 2023, when the last vehicle came off the production line, most of its workforce of 3,000 has been laid off. The Jeep Compass that was supposed to be manufactured at the Brampton plant was awarded to a plant in Illinois, and no new program is on the horizon.<\/p>\n
Earlier this year, the City of Brampton rezoned the lands to \u201cautomotive manufacturing only,\u201d in a bid to safeguard those jobs and prevent Stellantis from being able to sell or lease the lands to non-automotive manufacturers. <\/p>\n
When asked if Stellantis had plans on selling the land to another manufacturer, spokesperson Lou Anne Gosselin replied, \u201cStellantis remains focused on finding a sustainable future for Brampton assembly. We are engaged in constructive discussions with government partners and other stakeholders to help establish the conditions needed to support that objective.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are in a collective agreement with Stellantis,\u201d says Vito Beato, Unifor 1285 President, who represents the Brampton Stellantis workers. \u201cWe are close to bargaining. We\u2019re not going to allow Stellantis to cut and run. We are going to hit the table, and we are going to focus on getting answers for Brampton, get our members back to work, and get them protected for however long it takes for them to get back to work.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m hearing from Stellantis that it might not be until 2031 that they return, and that is unacceptable,\u201d says Brampton Mayor Patrick Brown. \u201cI think the Government of Canada needs to fully hold Stellantis accountable for the legal obligations they have for accepting millions of dollars in subsidies.\u201d<\/p>\n
Stellantis received over $200 million in federal funding to help support manufacturing of electric vehicles at the Brampton plant.<\/p>\n
\u201cHaving said that, I want to find these workers jobs right away, and whatever that location is, I hope that we can have a conversation with Unifor, with Stellantis, with Roshel and see how we can create more good-paying jobs in our community,\u201d says Brown. \u201cAnd I do hope those jobs are Unifor jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Roshel isn\u2019t surprised by Brown\u2019s backing. Last month, Brampton City Council unanimously approved a motion to support the company\u2019s bid to supply the Canadian Armed Forces with a new fleet of armoured vehicles.<\/p>\n
Shimonov is confident that if the contract \u2013 expected to be worth up to $6 billion \u2013 is granted, Roshel can help develop an infrastructure that will attract other defence manufacturers to the area. The company just entered a partnership with Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie, where it is establishing a ballistic steel manufacturing plant, \u201cwhich will allow us to be fully independent when it comes to critical supply.\u201d<\/p>\n
A decision on the LUV contract is expected within the next few weeks. <\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re talking about starting deliveries in 2026, and that\u2019s quite challenging; but there is no one else that can commit to that,\u201d Shimonov says. \u201cWe are the only company, not just in Canada, but the world that can start delivering this year.\u201d<\/p>\n
\u201cWe can not wait for the award to be ready. Definitely, we are more than just looking (for property),\u201d he says, suggesting preliminary real estate conversations have already started.<\/p>\n
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\t\t\t\tRoshel armoured vehicles are seen at the Canadian Association of Defence and Security Industries annual defence industry trade show CANSEC, in Ottawa, on Wednesday, May 28, 2025. THE CANADIAN PRESS\/Justin Tang <\/p>\n
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